The 1972 Film: The Godfather By Francis Ford Coppola

Chukwuebuka G. Ubochi
Professor Krajewski
English 101
November 19, 2014
Family Affairs The 1972 film “The Godfather” which was directed by Francis Ford Coppola was based on the Corleone crime Family which is one of the five families that operates in New York in 1940s. The Corleone family is led by Vito Corleone who is the head of the family; he has three sons and a daughter. His daughter was getting married in the opening scene of the movies while Vito Corleone was in the office handling family business. There are several plots that indicate how the family business or affairs work.
The film the Godfather started with Vito Corleone daughter getting married, as Vito conducts business in the office, he was with his oldest son Sonny and his adopted son Tom Hagen who is the family lawyer. Vito was approached by Sollozzo who was trying to get the protection and
financing of the Corleone family, Sollozzo wanted to sell narcotics and he got the Tattaglias and Barzinis family involved but need the influence and money of the Corleone family. Drugs being against Vito Corleone morals he said no and that lead to Sollozzo attempt to kill Vito Corleone. He survives the shooting but was in critical condition forcing sonny to be head of the family business. Michael, the youngest son, didn’t want to be part of the family business but when he heard about his father situation, he protected his father from being killed in the hospital and decided to take things in his own hands by killing Captain McCluskey and Sollozzo. Michael had to hide in Sicily, Italy for two years, but came back when he heard of his older brother Sonny being killed. Michael became the head of the family because Vito old age was getting to him and Sonny was dead, before Vito dies while playing with Michael son in the tomato garden, he gave Michael an advice of whoever comes speak to him about a meeting with the Barzinis is a traitor. Michael planned on moving the family business to Las Vegas but before doing so he got Tessio, his father associate and Carlo, his brother in-law killed because of betrayal and he also had the heads of the other families killed.
The first plot that indicates the family business affair was when Sollozzo approached the Corleone family to make a deal so that the Corleone family would invest in him and also provide him protection.
Vito did want his family involved in drugs because he knew the damage and reputation it could bring to his family, on the other hand Sollozzo didn’t care about the damage it would bring or the family feuds it would cause, all he cared about was the money. Vito knew in the long run of the narcotics business, it would break down his relationship with government officials and potentially break the peace between other families.
The second plot that indicates the family business affair is when Vito Corleone calls all the heads of each family to a meeting. Vito adjourned this meeting because he was trying to keep the peace between the families and Vito was expected to revenge for his son’s death, Santino Corleone, but instead he wanted to forget his vengeance and give his protection in return that Michael could come back to New York unharmed. Vito was trying to protect the family from anymore heart break and
loss.
The Godfather consist of several major characters in the movie, Vito Corleone was the head of the Corleone family. In my opinion he is the best Godfather there was even compared to Michael; Vito is wise, intelligent and can read situations before they happen. I think he outshines Michael on how he conducts himself with family and the kind of love he shows to his family even if the kind of business he does is very ruthless and brutal. Vito has three sons and they are all very different in characteristics. Santino Corleone also known as Sonny is the oldest of the Corleone brothers, he is very hot tempered and lacks restraint, Sonny is very quick to action without thinking things through and that is what got him killed. He is not loyal to his wife but he is full of passion and family oriented. Frederico Corleone also known as Fredo is the second oldest of the Corleone brothers. Fredo is the weakest out of all three brothers and also not as smart as his brothers. Fredo was never given any serious business to handle; he usually got the unimportant business. Fredo was the most obedient out of all three brothers but he was a womanizer and that made him not fit to handle the family business. Michael Corleone is the youngest of the Corleone brothers, he is smart, and is more like his father. Michael is able to command respect and he is very calm under pressure. Michael was seen as the best candidate to take over the family business because of the way he carried himself, he showed leadership when it was needed. Michael has a lot of positives to be seen fit to be a good Godfather but unlike his father who condones some situation, he desires vengeance.
The Corleone family is a power family that has certain morals that has been carried down their generation. They are family oriented and put family first before anything, the family affairs stays with the family only and like Vito said to Sonny in the scene with Sollozzo trying to make the deal with the Corleone family, “Don’t let anyone outside the family know what you are thinking”. Vito Corleone was a very outstanding Godfather and each of his sons had a trait from him, Sonny got a heart like his father to care for his love ones and tries to protect them, Fredo got his obedience of his father, and Michael got his father’s business mind and composure. The three Corleone brothers maybe could have run a successful together.